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Proposal, corks popped at council meeting

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Former county chief executive officer Ernie Schneider presented an

unusual proposal at the City Council meeting Tuesday.

“I am here to ask Elizabeth to marry me,” Schneider said at the

podium.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson sat stunned and blushing.

“I don’t hear an answer,” Schneider said.

Pearson, with admirable aplomb, remembered to turn on her

microphone and said, “That would be a yes.”

The council gave Schneider permission to approach the dais, where

he put an elegant diamond solitaire on Pearson’s finger and kissed

his new fiancee.

Schneider made his proposal during the public communications,

which is the first item on the council agenda.

“Well, this is a first,” said Mayor Toni Iseman, who suspended the

order of business for a brief but jolly celebration.

Glasses of non-alcoholic bubbly were passed around to the council,

staff and the audience and a toast was made to the newly engaged

couple.

Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman, who either was privy to Schneider’s

plan or prescient brought the bottles of chilled, sparkling cider and

glasses. Village Laguna Vice President Ed Fry supplied a bottle

opener, which is probably the only thing Kinsman doesn’t carry around

in that suitcase she packs to the council meetings.

Kinsman had sat with Pearson on the Planning Commission before

either was elected to the council.

“The first time I met Ernie was at a Planning Commission meeting,

where he was representing a developer,” Pearson said. “Cheryl passed

me a note that said, “He’s cute, you should go for him.’

“But I voted against his project and he wouldn’t speak to me for

two years.”

Schnieder and Pearson have been a couple for about two years. This

will be the second marriage for Pearson, 51, and Schneider, 56.

-- Barbara Diamond

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